Wire-stitching instrument.



V. FISCHER. WIRE STITGHING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1908.

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.MDREW a. GHANA V. FISCHER.

WIRE STITCHING INSTRUMENT,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1908.

3W5 Patented June 7,1910.

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UTTE TATE PATEN @FFTQE.

VICTOR FISCHER, 0F BUDAPEST, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

WIRE-STITGHING INSTRUMENT.

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Application filed July 16, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR F ISCI-IER, a subject of the King of Hungary, and residing at 14 Kossuth Lajos utcza, IV, in the city of Budapest, Kingdom of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vire- Stitching Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to a wire-stitching instrument intended for use in surgery comprising jaws movable parallel to one another and a frame formed after the manner of shears, one jaw serving to receive the wire staples required for the stitching operation and being equipped with mechanism by means of which the staples are rapidly ejected in succession with the prongs projecting, and are caused to penetrate the pieces or articles to be stitched, while the other jaw forms a resistance or counter-support which is provided with depressions entered by the prongs of the staples passing through the pieces or articles to be stitched so that the prongs are bent in and the staples are clenched in the usual way. The staples required to produce a single seam are arranged alongside one another in the jaw in one plane so that their prongs are directed toward the second jaw and the backs lie in a continuous line. For simultaneously producing two or more of such seams alongside one another two or more rows of staples to be driven by the same mechanism are carried in the same jaw, and where this is insuflicient or inconvenient the jaws are simply duplicated, two pairs of jaws being coupled together to form a single instrument which handles the two rows of staples simultaneously when for example a double seam is to be produced with an unstitched part between the seams.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one form of the instrument adapted to produce a double seam; Figure 1 showing the instrument in side elevation before use and in chain dotted lines in the position of use. Fig. 2 shows the inner side of the jaw forming the counter-support and provided with depressions as aforesaid. Fig. 3 shows the inner side of the other jaw with openings for the staples disposed opposite said depressions, the jaw being detached from the frame. Fig. 4: shows the same jaw opened in part side elevation, part section, in which are seen the mechanism within the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June *7, 1910.

Serial No. 443,770.

same serving to produce one seam and the actuating means therefor. Fig. 5 shows the inner face of the removable wall of this jaw, which wall carries the mechanism serving to produce the second seam. Fig. 6 shows a part of the actuating mechanism in side elevation and Fig. 7 shows on a larger scale the same in end elevation. Fig. 8 shows a part of Fig. l and also a part of the second jaw partly in section with the staples fitted in' position and indicates a step in the process of producing a seam. Fig. 9 shows a complete double seam. Fig. 10 shows a detail of the actuating mechanism. Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1111 of Fig. 8. Fig. 12 shows the same as Fig. 11 but with the mechanism removed.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the improved instrument comprises three main parts, i. e. the box-like jaw a containing the staples and the actuating mechanism: the solid jaw b forming a counter-support; and the frame connecting said aws a and 7) and consisting of two forked handles 0 connected after the manner of shears by means of a pivot bolt 1. The two jaws a and b are each hingedly connected with this frame at two points, 2'. c. with the forked end of each handle 0 projecting beyond the pivot 1 by means of a fixed bolt 2 and below the pivot 1 by means of a bolt 4 guided in a slot 3 open at its lower end and formed in the respective jaw a or b. By this connection of the jaws a, b with the frame 0 the result obtained is that the jaws a and 6 always move parallel to one another in opening or closing the members a which is necessary in order to grip the pieces or articles to be stitched uniformly at all points between the two jaws a and b. By removal of the bolts 2 both jaws can be readily and rapidly detached from the frame for the purpose of filling or cleaning and can as readily be again fitted to the frame.

The jaw a which represents the most important part of the instrument consists of a flat longitudinal box 5 having the crosssection shown in Fig. 12 and a removable wall 6 (Fig. 5) so as to render the interior of this box accessible. On the narrow side of the box opposite the jaw 72 which side forms the working side of the jaw a the wall 6 and also the bottom of the box 5 opposite the same are made of greater thickness wall and bottom are formed adjoining grooves 7 disposed at right angles to the working side of the box 5, the breadth of which grooves corresponds to the breadth of the staples to be used, and the depth of which corresponds. to the thickness of such staples, The two rows of grooves 7 are dis-. posed in a staggered position so that the middle of the grooves 7 in the wall 6 will be exactly midway between the grooves 7 in the bottom of the box. A thin partition wall 8 which in the construction as shown is connected with the wall 6 closes both rows of grooves 7 and so forms channels of rec. tangular section the openings ofwhich are staggered relatively to one another as shown on the working side of the jaw a in Fig. 3. In these grooves are slidably mounted fiat slides movable at right angles to the working side and entirely filling said grooves in cross section. These slides (Fig. 10) have each on the lower side a cross rib 10. which is guided in a recess 11 formed at the inner end of the grooves 7 (Figs. 11 and 12) and limits the movement of the slides 9 in both directions, each slide abutting against the shoulders 12 of the recess. The slides 9 and the stroke of the same are such that when the slides are moved to their extreme inward position so much space is leftfree in the grooves between the edges of the slides and the working side of the jaw that the U- shaped staples 13 (as shown in 'Fig. 8) can be inserted intothe grooves without their prongs projecting from the grooves, while when the slides are moved to their extreme outward position they eject thestaples entirely out of the grooves '7. The return movement of the slides 9 in order to leave the grooves 7 free to receive the staples 13 is efi'ectedvby means of a fiat bar of the same section .as the grooves. The said bar is not shown and forms no part of this invention.

'The forward movement of the slides-9 for the purpose of ejecting the staples is effected bymeans of the actuating mechanism here-' inafter described.

In the box 5 is mounted a rack 14 which can be reciprocated longitudinally of the box by means of a pinion 15 mounted on the box and engaging -with said rack, which is guided in a grooved extension 16 of the box 5, which is closed by means of a sliding cover 17. On this extension 16 is mounted a sprocket wheel 19 adapted; to be rotated by means of a crank 18, which wheel 19 is connected by a sprocket chain 20 with a second wheel 22 fixed on the shaft 21 of the pinion 15 so that the rack 14 is actuated by means of the crank 18 and the sprocket transmission gear. Obviously this-transmission gear may be dispensed with and the rack actuated by means of a crank mounted directly on the shaft 21 of the pinion, but said transmission gear isv provided in this case in order 'In this position the rack .at each end a pinion 25 and between the pinions 25 two star-wheels 26 one of which lies in the plane of the slides 9 mounted on the box wall and one in the plane of the slides mounted. on the bottom of the box. Opposite each pinion 25 is a rack 27 alongside the recesses 11, each rack being engaged by one of the pinions 25, the travel of said racks rotating the pinions25 and therewith the star-wheels 26. Each star-wheel has four projections soarranged and of such length that during the rotation of the wheels 26 they enter successively the grooves 7 pushing forward the slides 9 located therein.

The aw b is solid and is in the form of an extended finger. On the side facing the jaw athe jaw b is provided with two rows of indentations 33 exactly opposite the openings of the grooves 7, (Figs. 1, 2 and 8,) which indentations will bend in the prongs of the staples while the same are being ejected from the grooves 7.

The operation of the instrument is as follows :First in order to expose the working side of the jaw Z) either the jaw Z) or the jaw a is detached from its handle 0, by removing the corresponding pivot pin 2 and then by turning the crank 18 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 the fork 23 at the end of the rack 14 is moved to the extreme outer end of the box 5 so that all the star wheels 26 aremo-ved away from the slides 9. 14 is secured by a pin 35 which enters a bore 34v formed. partly in the rack andpartly in the jaw 64. and in the slide 17, and hereupon all the slides 9 are moved inward with the aid of the aforementioned flat bar. ,Then the staples 13.are inserted into the,grooves"7 in the position shown at the bottom of Fig. 8 and when all the grooves have been filled the detached jaw a or 7) as the case may be is again connected with its handle. Now the instrument is put into position for moved under the pieces to be stitched together so that it comes exactly under the place where the seam is to be made and the jaw 64 is brought opposite it. The two jaws a and 'b are now brought close together into 120 the position shown by chain-dotted lines in .Fig. 1 by compressing the handles 0 so that they will grip the pieces to be stitched 'to gether (indicated at 28, and 29 in Fig. 8).

The instrument is retained in this position 125 by means of a latch 30 pivoted to one handle 0, which latch on compressing the handles 0 is forced by a spring 31 into teethformed on a bar 32 secured to the other handle a looking the handles together. Know the pin 35 130 use and the jaw b is removed and the crank 15 turned in the direction opposite to that of the arrow in Fig. 1 until the fork 23 of the rack 14 reaches the inner end of the boX and the pinions 25 and star wheels 26 are prevented from further rotation thereby, the seam is complete and the instrument can be released by lifting out the latch 30. The rack 14 has moved in the interval in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figs. 4 and 8, whereby the starwheels 26 have been rotated in the direction of the arrow and have pushed the slides 9 in the grooves 7 outward. The slides 9 in turn have ejected the staples 13 from the grooves 7 and driven their prongs through the pieces 28, 29 to be stitched together, the depressions 33 in the jaw 6 having bent in the prongs of the staples and thereby clenched the staples 13, thus producing the seam shown in Fig. 9.

I claim.

1. An instrument for wire stitching comprising two jaws, adapted to close on the pieces to be stitched together, a handle for each jaw pivotally connected therewith and connected together by a common pivot, means for maintaining said jaws in parallel relation during their movement, one of said jaws being formed with a plurality of rows of grooves adapted to receive staples therein, mo able slides located in said grooves, means in said jaw for successively moving said slides outward to eject the said staples, the other aw having indentations arranged opposite said grooves and adapted to bend in the prongs of the staples during their ejection from said grooves.

2. An instrument for wire-stitching comprising a jaw formed with grooves adapted to receive staples therein, movable slides mounted in said grooves and adapted to engage the staples therein, a rack mounted in said jaw alongside of said grooves, a gear wheel engaging with said rack, a star wheel connected with said gear wheel and having arms adapted to cooperate with said slides to successively force them outward thereby ejecting the staples, means for rotating said gear wheel, and a second jaw forming an abutment for the jaw carrying the staples and provided with indentations opposite the staple containing grooves, to bend in the prongs of the staples during their ejection from the grooves.

3. A wire-stitching instrument comprising a jaw having a row of grooves each adapted to receive a staple therein, a movable slide mounted in each of said grooves and adapted to engage the staple therein, a stationary rack bar mounted in said aw alongside the row of said grooves, a gear wheel engaging with said rack bar, a star wheel connected with said gear wheel and having arms adapted to successively bear against said slides to move them outward from their grooves thereby ejecting the staples, a movable rack-bar forked at its inner end, a shaft rotatably mounted in said forked end and carrying the said gear wheel, a pinion engaging said movable rackbar and means for rotating said pinion thereby moving said rack bar and rotating said star wheel, and a second jaw pivoted to the staple carrying jaw and forming an abutment therefor and having indentations arranged opposite the staple carrying grooves to bend in the prongs of the staples during their ejection from their grooves,

4. An instrument for wire-stitching comprising two jaws adapted to close on the pieces to be stitched together, a handle for each jaw pivoted thereto and connected with each other by a common pivot, means for maintaining said jaws in parallel relation during their movement, one of said aws being formed with a plurality of grooves arranged in rows and adapted to receive each a staple, a movable slide located in each groove, means for successively moving said slides outward to thereby eject the staples from said grooves, the other jaw having indentations arranged opposite said grooves and adapted to bend in the prongs of the staples during their ejection from their grooves, and means for locking the handles in position during the ejection of the staples.

5. A wire-stitching instrument comprising a jaw having a plurality of parallel rows of grooves each adapted to receive a staple therein, the said grooves being arranged in a staggered position, partitions between two adjacent rows, a movable slide mounted in each groove and adapted to en gage the staple in each groove, a stationary rack bar mounted in said jaw alongside the said rows of grooves, a gear wheel engaging with said rack bar, star wheels connected with said gear wheel and having arms adapted to successively come in contact with said slides to move them outward from their grooves thereby ejecting the staples from said grooves, a movable rack bar forked at its inner end, the said gear wheel being rotatably mounted in said forked end, a pinion engaging said movable rack bar, means for rotating said pinion thereby reciprocating said rack bar and rotating said star wheels and a second jaw pivoted to the staple carrying jaw and constituting an abutment therefor and having indentations arranged opposite the staple carrying grooves to bend in the prongs of the staples while they are ejected from their grooves.

6. A wire-stitching instrument comprising a jaw having a plurality of parallel rows of grooves, each groove adapted to receive a staple therein, the said grooves being arranged in a staggered position, partitions between the various rows, a movable slide in each groove and adapted to engage the staple in each groove, the rooves being provided with shoulders for imiting the movement of the said slides in either direction, a stationary rack bar arranged alongside the said rows of grooves, a gear wheel engaging with said rack bar, star wheel s connected with the said gear wheel and having arms adapted to successively come in contact with the said slides to move them outward from their grooves thereby ejecting the staples, a movable rack bar forked at its inner end, the said gear wheel being rotatably mounted in said forked end, a pinion engaging said movable rack bar, means for rotating said pinion thereby reciprocating said rack bar and rotating said star wheels, and a second jaw pivoted to the staple carrying jaw and constituting an abutment therefor and having indentations arranged opposite the staple containing grooves to bend in the prongs of the staples during their ejection from their grooves.

7 A wire-stitching instrument comprising a jaw having grooves arranged in a row and each adapted to receive a staple therein, a movable slide provided in each of said grooves and adapted to engage the staple therein, a stationary rack bar arranged alongside of said grooves, a gear wheel engaging with said rack bar, a star wheel connected with said gear wheel and having proplnion engaging said movable rack bar, means for rotatmg said pinlon thereby reciprocating said movable rack bar and rofor and having indentations arranged opplosite the staple containing grooves to bend in' the prongs of the staples during their ejection from the said grooves.

8. A wire-stitching instrument comprising a aw having grooves arranged in a row and each adapted to receive a staple therein, a movable slide provided in each of said grooves and adapted to engage the staple therein, a stationary rack bar arranged alongside said grooves, a gear wheel engaging with said rack bar, a star wheel connected with said gear wheel and havingprojections adapted to successively bear against said slides to move them outward thereby ejecting the staples from their grooves, a movable rack bar forked at its inner end and having the said gear wheel rotatably mounted in its forked end, a pinion engaging said movable rack bar, a sprocket wheel secured to said pinion, a sprocket driving wheel, a sprocket chain connecting said two sprocket wheels, a crank secured to the axis of the said sprocket driving wheel, and an abutment for the staple carrying jaw provided with indentations so arranged with respect to the grooves in the staple carrying jaw as to bend in the prongs of the staples during their ejection from their grooves.

I11 testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VICTOR FISCHER.

Witnesses:

.MARTIN HOUNGER, MICHAEL Tomon. 

